Toronto chef opens a pay-what-you-can soup bar

For years, Toronto chef Jagger Gordon noticed the food going to waste - imperfect but completely edible produce, canned items close to expiration date, oddly-shaped breads from notable bakeries - good, nutritious food thrown in the dumpster while some local residents went hungry. As a man who made a living working with food, the injustice bothered him. He decided to do something about it.

He founded Feed It Forward in 2014, intent on connecting the food industry to those in need. He developed an app which he hopes "will allow farmers, wholesalers, retailers, caterers, restaurants and even home cooks to donate food without having to worry about legal restrictions that currently exist prohibiting the free donation of food. The app will provide an alternative avenue for food donation by providing a platform connecting those in need, with donors, who will be paid by donation via the application. The recipients will have unrestricted access to donations and will receive donation notifications detailing the types of food available, locations, and pickup times in their area." 

In keeping with his mission of connecting nourishing food with those who need it, Gordon's newest venture just opened - a pay-what-you-can soup bar. Presently, he offers four kinds of soup, all made by him from ingredients that would otherwise have ended up at the landfill. Instead, those gleaned ingredients are nourishing bodies and encouraging the spirit of the people of Toronto. 

One woman's idea - fill purses with feminine hygiene products and give them to homeless women

Jana Girdauskas isn't quite sure what prompted the thought, but last Monday she wondered how homeless women manage when they get their periods. How would they get the costly products they need, the tampons and pads and such? The Toronto mother of two pictured herself in that situation and decided to give away some of her own products. She needed something to hold the items, so she posted a request for donated purses on a local parenting Facebook page. She was overwhelmed with the generous response. Not only were purses dropped off by the dozen, but also personal extras like scarves, deodorants, and coffee shop gift cards. Apparently, Toronto residents form a caring community.

Last week Jana and her husband delivered the first round of what they're calling 'period purses' to women living on the streets. The women are understandably grateful for the purse full of necessities. Jana and her husband, neither of whom have ever done something like this before, have enough filled purses to keep the project going for another 10 days. They are looking to local shelters and other charities to take the idea and run with it.

I love this idea - such a simple and straightforward way to promote personal dignity.